Global Patent Index - EP 0947911 A2

EP 0947911 A2 19991006 - A user interface device for managing complex object relationships

Title (en)

A user interface device for managing complex object relationships

Title (de)

Eine Benutzerschnittstellevorrichtung zur Verwaltung von Verbindungen zwischen komplizierten Objekten

Title (fr)

Un appareil d'interface utilisateur de gestion de relations entre des objets complexes

Publication

EP 0947911 A2 19991006 (EN)

Application

EP 99302606 A 19990401

Priority

  • US 8058198 P 19980403
  • US 10799598 A 19980630

Abstract (en)

A user-interface device for working with views of complex pictures employs iconic navigation aids called "beacon nodes." The invention is particularly suited to large complex schematic drawings that are useful to view at various zoom factors to selectively view details and also to see a larger portion for context. The difficulty of returning to one set of features after focusing on another set of features is addressed. The user defines groups of elements (called 'clans') for which a close-up view is desired to be defined. The interface allows such views or groups of elements to be named and associated with a beacon node. (The user may zoom out from a saved view or close-up of a group of objects and zoom in on another view. To return to the saved view or close-up, the user can zoom out.) The beacon node may always be visible by insuring it is not scaled below a certain size. The beacon nodes may be colored to help the user distinguish them. By selecting a beacon node, for example, by clicking on it using a mouse, the display frames the corresponding clan.

IPC 1-7

G06F 3/033

IPC 8 full level

G06F 3/033 (2006.01); G06F 3/048 (2013.01); G06F 3/0481 (2013.01); G06F 3/0484 (2013.01)

CPC (source: EP)

G06F 3/0481 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04806 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0947911 A2 19991006; AU 2359899 A 19991014; CA 2267570 A1 19991003; JP H11327747 A 19991130

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 99302606 A 19990401; AU 2359899 A 19990406; CA 2267570 A 19990330; JP 9493099 A 19990401